STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: The North West Department of Education, in collaboration with North West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus, hosted the province’s first-ever FET Phase Spelling Bee Competition on Saturday, 16 August 2025.
Conducted in English, Afrikaans, and Setswana, the event brought together 100 high school learners from across the province, each selected through their schools to represent their districts.
The initiative follows the success of the 2024 NWU Intercampus Spelling Bee, where Education MEC Viola Motsumi emphasised the need to strengthen language proficiency and nurture academic excellence at secondary school level. Speaking on behalf of the Department, Acting Deputy Director-General for Curriculum, Gift Ramadie, highlighted the significance of the competition. “Language is the bridge to knowledge. By equipping our learners with strong language skills, we are not only preparing them for examinations but also creating pathways to higher education and the world of work. The spelling bee is a fun, competitive and impactful way of building confidence and mastery in our learners,” he said. Learners impressed judges with their accuracy, composure, and determination. The top achievers in each language category were: Afrikaans Spelling Bee – first place Warona Kuntwane, Tigerkloof Secondary (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati), second place Mudiwa Matope, Kismet Secondary (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati) and third place Thabisile Ndlozi, Sunrise View Secondary (Bojanala). Setswana Spelling Bee: first place Keolebogile Tsimele, Jan Masibi Secondary (Ngaka Modiri Molema), second place Tshepang Xekwana, Mogwase Technical High (Bojanala) and third place Gosego Mosalaesi, Pinagare Secondary (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati). English Spelling Bee: first place Bophelo Noke, Zeerust Combined School (Ngaka Modiri Molema), second place Goitsilee Motheo, Modise Kanono Secondary (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati) and third Kitso Mokgwatshane, Letsatsing Science School (Ngaka Modiri Molema). Winners were rewarded with cash prizes of R5 000 for first place, R2 500 for second place, and R1 000 for third place. The Department of Education commended NWU and participating schools for their partnership in making the event a success, adding that the competition is building a culture of reading, multilingual confidence, and academic achievement across the province.
